Lazy afternoon on the Deschutes River
Published: May 05. 2004 4:00AM PST
Why should we care about the Deschutes River?
It's a question I recently asked Riverfest organizers Bea Armstrong and Ryan Houston. In reply, they spoke eloquently of the river's influence on everything from Central Oregon's culture to its economic vitality to its quality of life.
Good answers. And I think it's a good question.
It made me think about something that we all could easily take for granted.
If you live or work in Bend, the Deschutes is an everyday occurrence, a backdrop, a dependable old friend.
But go down there, wriggle your toes in the sand, study the random confusion of Lava Island Falls or observe a mated pair of Canada geese, and the river takes center stage.
My two sons and I spent a glorious afternoon on the Deschutes just outside of Bend recently and came away with a newfound appreciation for one of the crown jewels of Central Oregon.
Going to the river can be as simple as sitting on a bankside bench during your lunch hour, or as involved as a multi-day float trip.
We packed a picnic lunch (No. 1 son makes a killer roast beef and Havarti sandwich) and drove the few short miles to Meadow Picnic Area west of town. A low-key affair. While one boy fished and the other engaged in swordplay with an imaginary villain, I watched the river flow by. Several others were doing the same.
Sean Fletcher, his 2-year-old son Ronan and dog Rosco were taking a short walk along the river trail. Kelly Midkiff, 18, wasn't catching many fish but was getting an early start on a summer tan. Ron Johnson, was combining a bike ride with a bracing, early-season swim.
Others were sunbathing, power walking, paddling and picnicking.
Perry Lenhart and his dog, Velo, were cruising in a kayak. Every once in a while Velo, a national Frisbee champion, would jump in the water and dive to the bottom to retrieve something. For my kids and I, Lenhart and his yellow Lab almost upstaged the river for a time.
But then, the passing parade is part of the flavor of the Deschutes. Bend is definitely a river town.
Meadow Picnic Area is a good jumping-off point for a hike up the river. There are several possible destinations. Lava Island Falls is 1.2 miles upstream from the Meadow Picnic trailhead, Dillon Falls is 4.5 miles and Benham Falls is a substantial 8.5 miles. Along the way there are Big Eddy and Aspen day-use areas where the river lolls after a breakneck ride through Dillon Falls.
But a trip to the river can be a laid-back, even lazy, excursion as well. Ken Roadman did a 25-mile bike ride in the morning. By the afternoon, all he wanted to do was sit by the river's edge with his wife Vicki, eat some sushi and watch it flow.
Not a care in the world.
Which, I think, is as good a reason as any to get to know an old friend even better.
Jim Witty can be reached at 541-617-7828 or jwitty@bendbulletin.com.
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